News

South Burlington Location To Welcome Participants Next Month

The University of Vermont Health Network – Home Health & Hospice Adult Day Program, which provides critical care and therapeutic services to the community, will reopen its South Burlington site on June 9, 2021, based on guidance from the state of Vermont.

Statewide, Adult Day Programs have been closed for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Staffing and resource challenges are driving a slower-than-hoped reopening for these facilities across Vermont. Home Health & Hospice will focus its staff and resources in one location – Farrell Street in South Burlington. The two other Adult Day Program sites operated by Home Health & Hospice in Colchester and Essex will remain closed until further notice, with the possibility of reopening them re-evaluated ongoing. This gradual approach is intended to work to ensure the long-term viability of this important program.

“We are excited to restart services and see many of our participants again. Our goal is to serve individuals with the greatest need for Adult Day services, while working to ensure the safety of our clients and staff,” Home Health & Hospice leadership said. “We know how important this program is to our community and we look forward to providing this critical resource.”

Guidance from the state directs Adult Day Programs to maintain physical distancing and masking measures, which means services provided will be limited to traditional physical care.

Participants will be contacted

The South Burlington Adult Day Program site will not be able to offer participation to all previous clients due to the state’s capacity and census limits and because Home Health & Hospice is re-opening only one of its three sites at this time. Adult Day Program leaders recognize this may be disappointing to some and apologize for the inconvenience. They plan to be in touch with participants/caregivers and community partners in the coming days to explain the reopening plans and participation criteria.

Participants who previously attended one of Home Health & Hospice’s Adult Day Programs at the time of closure last year will be prioritized. Other factors to be considered when prioritizing participation include:

• Vaccination status
• Ability to mask, social distance and perform hand hygiene while at the program
• A one-person assist or less required